THE controversial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Arroyo regime and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is supposed to be the bearer of peace. As trumpeted by the Arroyo regime it is the key to lasting peace in Mindanao. But instead of peace, the MOA has become the instrument of war. This is the supreme irony of our time.

War is upon the nation and Mindanao is in flames. The MOA is the root cause of renewed hostilities and fighting in the South.

When the MOA first saw the public light the nation is up in arms, particularly areas in Mindanao affected by the MOA. Local officials of Zamboanga and North Cotabato immediately asked the Supreme Court to take action. Seeing the urgency of the matter High Tribunal instantly intervened by issuing a TRO on stopping the MOA signing.

The MILF or some of its forces took direct action upon knowing the suspension of the MOA signing in Malaysia. Ameril Ombra Kato, commander of MILF’s 105th Base Command on claim of frustration over the suspension of the signing went on rampage in several towns in North Cotabato. Civilians were shot at random, houses were torched, livestock were slaughtered. More than 160,000 residents fled from their homes and sought refuge in evacuation centers.

Few days after the attacks in North Cotabato, another MILF commander, Abdulla Macapaar alias commander Bravo launched attacks in several towns in Lanao del Norte. The attacks in Lanao del Norte were much deadlier. MILF forces hacked civilians with machetes, torched houses and sprayed people with gun fire. The rampage of Commander Bravo left 41 people dead and hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes.

Even women and children were not spared from the brutality of the rebels. Love-love, a 2-year-old girl in Kalambugan town in Lanao del Norte was shot and her two-week old younger sister died in the evacuation center. Everywhere in the area, people were screaming and wailing as dead bodies of relatives and love ones litter in highways, farms and forested areas. Some residents were held hostage by the MILF and used as human shields while retreating.

In Iligan City, evacuation centers overflow with refugees and able-bodied men started arming themselves to defend the city from rebel attacks. Elsewhere in Mindanao, residents were arming themselves and the dreaded Ilaga group revived itself to fight the rebels. It’s already a full-scale war in Mindanao whether the government will admit or not.

Events are happening so fast, the whole nation is dumbfounded. Few weeks ago, everything appears peaceful and calm in the South. Now a full-scale war is upon the nation. Metro Manila is already in full alert for fear of sympathy attacks and retaliation. Major cities in the Visayas and Luzon are on heightened alert for fear of reprisal and escalation of violence. How could things change so swiftly?

There is only one answer to the question. Everything that is happening in the country is a scripted action. It is obvious events follow certain pattern and it appears the devious plot hatched in secrecy is becoming a reality. Who is the ultimate director of this evil scheme?

The author of this scripted action is none other than the person who ultimately benefits should the wicked plan succeeds. It is quite clear the MOA with the MILF is the weapon used to plunge the country into war and to rip the Constitution apart. The plot is simple, push the MILF to resume war and use war to force opponents of charter change to demolish their opposition.

According to the script, the government offers the MILF an agreement that is bound to fail. The rebel group cries foul and retaliate with savage action. The treacherous act of the rebel group becomes the basis for government to junk the MOA (which it did) and its back to war.

With the nation in flames, the administration can now justify the declaration of martial law or put the country under a state of emergency. Armed with martial law powers, the administration will use force to silence all opposition to charter change. The Constitution is changed with the nation under the grip of martial law to extend the term of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA).

Term extension and power for life is the ultimate goal of this scripted action. It is outrageous human lives are sacrificed and the blood of the innocents are offered to the altar of war just to consummate the ambition of one person - rule this country forever. Only a leader in the caliber of Hitler, Stalin or Amin, can hatch such diabolical design.

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